ADVANCE 2025 IAI Muda at UC: Bringing Accounting Students from 57 Universities to Compete and Collaborate
SURABAYA, SJP – Amidst the increasingly complex dynamics of the financial and tax world, accounting students in Indonesia need a platform that can hone critical and innovative thinking, and build professional networks from an early age.
One platform that successfully addresses this need is ADVANCE (Accounting Due Verity & Tax Competition), a national event that provides a forum for students to examine contemporary issues in accounting and taxation.
Formed as part of ACCRUED, an annual program initiated by the Young Members of the Indonesian Institute of Accountants (IAI) East Java Region, ADVANCE provides a platform for students from various universities to exchange ideas, develop competencies, and foster leadership in accounting and finance.
One ADVANCE event that achieved significant success was ADVANCE 2025, held at Ciputra University Surabaya. This event was a collaboration between the Young Members of the IAI East Java Region and the Accounting Study Program at Ciputra University, coordinated by the Accounting Student Union (SU), the university’s accounting student organisation.
Under the leadership of Kenley Maccauley Riyono as Chair of the SU and Luky Patricia Widianingsih as Advisor, Ciputra University successfully hosted this year’s ADVANCE event.
ADVANCE 2025 comprises two main competitions, namely the Essay Competition and the Tax Competition, with a total of 397 participants from 57 universities in Indonesia.
- Tax Competition, The competition, attended by 220 students, carried the theme “Preparing Indonesia’s Youth for Tax Literacy: Essential Skills for Economic Challenges in 2045.” The competition aimed to explore tax concepts and practices in addressing the challenges of inclusive economic growth.
- Essay Competition: The competition, attended by 177 students, focused on the theme “Sustainable Accounting: Strategies for Achieving Indonesia’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2045.” The competition encouraged students to share their views on sustainable accounting for Indonesia’s future.
- A total of 57 universities participated in the competition, including Airlangga University, Gadjah Mada University, University of Indonesia, Brawijaya University, Diponegoro University, Hasanuddin University, Padjadjaran University, State Finance Polytechnic STAN, Sebelas Maret University, and many others. This broad participation reflects students’ strong enthusiasm for exploring accounting and taxation issues in depth.
Goals and Benefits of ADVANCE for Students
More than a competition, ADVANCE aims to develop a generation of young accountants who are critical, innovative, and adaptable to global economic change. Luky Patricia, the event’s supervisor, explained that the event is designed as a competition-based learning platform in which students are tested not only on theory but also challenged to think strategically and develop solutions.
“ADVANCE is not just a competition, but an ecosystem that enables students to understand the role of accounting and taxation in sustainable economic development,” Patricia explained when contacted on Tuesday (February 18, 2025).
“We want students to not only memorise regulations but also be able to analyse and provide real solutions to industry challenges,” she added.
According to Patricia, there are three main benefits students can gain through ADVANCE:
1. Strengthening Critical and Analytical Thinking Skills
- Students are challenged to analyse complex issues in both tax policy and sustainable accounting practices. Competitions such as the Tax Competition challenge students to develop strategies for addressing real-world tax scenarios.
2. Increasing Awareness of the Role of Accounting in Sustainable Development
- Tema kompetisi yang selalu selaras dengan perkembangan global, seperti SDGs 2045, membuat mahasiswa memahami bagaimana akuntansi dapat menjadi instrumen utama dalam mewujudkan ekonomi yang inklusif dan berkelanjutan.
3. Opportunities for Collaboration and Professional Network Development
- With dozens of universities from various regions participating, ADVANCE provides students with opportunities to meet, discuss, and network with academics and practitioners. This provides crucial capital to help them navigate the job market after graduation.
Academic Perspective: Promoting More Progressive Accounting
In each event, ADVANCE always features judges from academics and professionals in their fields. In addition to judging the competition, they also mentor participants and provide new insights.
Luky Patricia added that the role of academics in this competition extends beyond simply providing assessments to include shaping students’ understanding of real-world industry challenges.
“We want students to emerge from this competition with a broader perspective. Today’s accounting world isn’t just about recording numbers, but also about how we can become problem solvers for the nation’s economy,” he said.
The Future of ADVANCE: Cultivating a Generation of Accountants Ready to Face Global Challenges
With growing industry demand for innovative, sustainability-driven accountants, ADVANCE is expected to continue to serve as a platform that hones students’ competencies and prepares them for the realities of the workplace.
Patricia emphasised that going forward, ADVANCE will not only be a competition but also a platform for more in-depth education and research for students.
“We hope ADVANCE can continue to serve as a bridge between academia and industry, so that students are better prepared to face the rapid changes in the world of finance and taxation,” she concluded.
The success of ADVANCE this year has once again encouraged critical thinking, innovation, and academic networking, making it one of the most prestigious events for accounting students in Indonesia.
With a spirit of collaboration and continuous development, ADVANCE will continue to be a platform for the younger generation to address global economic challenges with more progressive accounting solutions. (*)